Alexandra Eckersley, the daughter of Hall of Fame pitcher Dennis Eckersley, received a suspended sentence after being convicted of abandoning her newborn son in the woods. The court sentenced her to 12 months and six months, but both were suspended, allowing her to return home. Prosecutors had requested jail time, while the defense asked for a suspended sentence with continued mental health treatment.
The judge, Amy Messer, expressed concerns about jailing Eckersley, stating that it could hinder the progress she has made since her arrest. Eckersley did not address the court during the sentencing. Judge Messer emphasized the importance of Eckersley staying on the right path for her and her son’s well-being.
The charges against Eckersley, including falsifying physical evidence and endangering the welfare of a child, normally carry a prison sentence of four to eight years. However, the jury acquitted her of two assault charges. Assistant county attorney Alexander Gatzoulis acknowledged that Eckersley admitted her actions and has been working to improve her life.
Eckersley’s lawyers argued that she was unaware of her pregnancy due to mental health and developmental issues. They stated that she has been sober since her arrest, attending therapy regularly, and living with her son and mother in Massachusetts. Her mother, Nancy Eckersley, asked for leniency, highlighting the positive changes in her daughter’s life since having her son.
The incident occurred when Eckersley was living in a tent in New Hampshire and gave birth to her son on Christmas night. She believed her child had died and led first responders in the wrong direction out of fear. Prosecutors mentioned that the baby was left alone in subfreezing temperatures for over an hour, suffering from respiratory distress and hypothermia.
Despite the troubling circumstances, Eckersley’s lawyers argued that she called 911 and eventually led them to the baby. They claimed that police initially did not believe her. Eckersley’s lawyers also mentioned that she thought she had given birth to two children, one of whom had not survived.
The man who was with Eckersley in the tent was also arrested and sentenced to a year in jail for child endangerment. The Eckersley family released a statement, expressing shock at Alexandra’s pregnancy and emphasizing her lifelong struggle with mental illness.
Dennis Eckersley, Alexandra’s father, attended part of her trial. He had a successful baseball career and later became a broadcaster for the Boston Red Sox. The family is focused on supporting Alexandra through her mental health journey and ensuring the well-being of her son.
